Israel considering allowing entry of Syrian Druze communities for work

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel is considering allowing members of the Syrian Druze community to work in the occupied Golan Heights. This plan is intended to reflect Israel's "firm commitment to its Druze friends in Syria." This gesture aims to foster goodwill and potentially influence the community's perception of Israeli presence.

Katz said on Thursday that Israel is currently considering allowing Druze people living nearby to travel to the Golan Heights daily for work and is prepared to provide them with assistance through various organizations and means. He emphasized that Israel wants to see them protected and is making careful deployments to that end. The initiative also serves as a demonstration of Israel's concern for the well-being of the Druze population.

Israel has occupied Syria's Golan Heights since 1967, and the area is mainly inhabited by members of the Syrian Druze community. Earlier this week, Israel carried out multiple airstrikes on military bases inside Syria, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Sunday, demanding "complete demilitarization" of southern Syria. The attacks resulted in at least two deaths.

According to Syrian media reports, the airstrikes targeted the town of Kiswa, south of Damascus, and several areas in the Daraa province. In his speech, Netanyahu specifically mentioned the Syrian Druze community living in the Suweida region, stating, "We will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria." This statement underscores Israel's declared interest in protecting the Druze population in the region.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government in December, Israel has repeatedly mentioned religious and ethnic minorities within Syria, including the Kurdish community and the Druze. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a leader of the Syrian Druze community, said in an exclusive interview with Middle East Eye in December that he condemns Israel's recent incursions into Syrian land, which began immediately after Assad's downfall. His statement highlights the complex relationship between the Druze community and Israel.

Al-Hijri stated: "The Druze want to maintain their privacy on their own land, but this has become an international issue. This invasion should be of concern to all countries." This week, Druze protesters in Suweida held banners opposing Israeli incursions into their region. One sign read: "The people of Suweida are part of Syria and accept nothing but the Syrian nation. Syrian law is their protector and the guarantor of their rights." These protests reflect the community's desire for autonomy and their commitment to Syrian national identity.

Syrian conflict expert Robin Yassin-Kassab said that Israel is trying to create "a situation that doesn't exist" by dividing Syria. Ahmed Shalha, the new leader of Syria, publicly opposed the Israeli incursions into Syria this week and condemned the "provocative statements of the Israeli Prime Minister." This opposition reflects the new government's stance against perceived Israeli interference in Syrian affairs.

The new government stated that Israel is violating Syrian sovereignty and called on the international community to pressure Israel to "stop its aggression" and demand an "immediate and unconditional withdrawal." Despite the verbal condemnation from Damascus, no military action has been taken against Israel. Since December, Israel has conducted intense airstrikes on Syrian military infrastructure, leaving the new government, already ravaged by 14 years of civil war, with little capacity for military response. The lack of a strong military response underscores the challenges faced by the new Syrian government in asserting its sovereignty.